Harry V. Shourds Robin Snipe

Harry V. Shourds (1861-1920) Tuckerton, NJ, c. 1890 8 1/2 in. long

A robin snipe in spring plumage. Red knot carvings by this maker are amongst the rarest species that he carved with the majority of Shourds decoys fashioned as plovers and yellowlegs. Original paint, gunning wear, neck reset with some touch-up, varnish successfully removed.

Provenance: Richard LaFountain Collection

Literature: James R. Doherty, "Classic New Jersey Decoys," Louisville, KY, 2011, p. 70, related examples illustrated. Peter Johnson and Alf Wannenburgh, “The World of Shooting,” Lausanne, Switzerland, 1987, pp. 259-261, related decoy illustrated. Jeff Waingrow, “The American Decoy: Folk Sculpture from the Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Donal C. O’Brien Jr.,” The Clarion: America’s Folk Art Magazine, Fall 1981, p. 31, related decoy illustrated.

Provenance

Richard LaFountain Collection